Gum disease is one of the most common threats to adult oral health, and yet many people don’t recognize how quietly it can begin. Left unchecked, inflammation of the gums and supporting tissues can erode the foundations that hold teeth in place. At Contemporary Dentistry, we focus on clear explanations, careful diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment plans to help patients protect their smiles and preserve long-term oral function.
Periodontal disease starts when bacterial biofilm—commonly called plaque—builds up along the gumline and below it. Over time, that bacterial load and the toxins it produces trigger an inflammatory response in the soft tissues surrounding the teeth. When routine oral hygiene and professional cleanings are not sufficient to control this process, inflammation can progress from the superficial gum tissue deeper into the periodontal ligament and the bone that supports the teeth.
Because early stages of gum disease are frequently painless, people often discover the problem only after visible signs appear or after a dental professional identifies pocketing or bone loss on a radiograph. This quiet progression is why regular dental checkups and periodontal screening are essential; they allow clinicians to detect changes before they become irreversible.
Several factors influence how quickly gum disease advances. Genetics, smoking, poorly controlled diabetes, certain medications, and inconsistent oral care can all increase risk. Understanding these influences helps clinicians tailor preventive and therapeutic strategies to an individual’s circumstances.
Common symptoms that suggest the need for a periodontal evaluation:
Gums that look swollen, feel tender, or appear darker than usual
Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing
Gum recession that makes teeth appear longer or exposes root surfaces
Increased tooth sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet stimuli
Persistent bad breath or an unpleasant taste in the mouth
Teeth that feel loose or a change in how your bite fits together
New gaps forming between teeth or difficulty with partial dentures fitting properly
Pus or discharge near the gumline or aching when chewing
Oral health does not exist in isolation. The soft tissues and bone around your teeth play a role in nutrition, speech, and overall comfort — and mounting research shows that periodontal inflammation can be associated with broader health concerns. While gum disease is primarily a localized infection, the inflammatory burden it creates can have implications for systemic health, especially when other medical conditions are present.
Studies have found links between periodontal inflammation and cardiovascular disease, diabetes control, certain respiratory conditions, and pregnancy outcomes. These associations underscore the importance of preventing and managing periodontal disease as part of a comprehensive approach to overall wellness. Good periodontal care supports not only a healthy mouth but may also contribute to improved general health outcomes.
Prevention and early intervention are the most effective tools for minimizing those risks. Regular periodontal assessments, professional cleanings, and a consistent home care routine reduce bacterial load and inflammation, helping to protect both oral and systemic health.
Gingivitis is the earliest, reversible form of gum disease. It is marked primarily by inflammation of the gum tissue without irreversible damage to the underlying bone. Typical signs include redness, swelling, and bleeding with brushing or flossing. Because these symptoms can be subtle, many people with gingivitis don’t seek care until it has progressed.
The good news is that gingivitis is highly responsive to treatment. Professional removal of plaque and calculus combined with enhanced daily brushing and flossing often restore healthy gum tissue. Education and coaching in effective oral hygiene techniques are central to treatment — small changes in technique and routine can produce significant results.
After active therapy for gingivitis, a schedule of more frequent maintenance visits may be recommended to ensure inflammation remains under control and to prevent progression to periodontitis.
Periodontitis occurs when untreated inflammation extends into the connective tissues and bone that anchor teeth. As bone is lost and pockets develop between the tooth root and the gum, the structural support for teeth is compromised. This stage of disease can lead to drifting, loosening, and ultimately tooth loss if not managed appropriately.
Clinicians evaluate periodontitis using clinical measures such as pocket depth, bleeding on probing, attachment level, and radiographic evidence of bone loss. The primary goals of treatment are to eliminate infection, reduce pocket depths, preserve existing bone, and create a tissue environment that patients can maintain with daily care.
Modern periodontal care emphasizes individualized treatment plans. Depending on severity and patient factors, therapy may range from conservative non-surgical measures to procedures that aim to regenerate lost tissue and restore function.
Treatment begins with a thorough evaluation and a discussion of realistic goals. For many patients, a combination of professional debridement, improved home care, and targeted therapeutic measures is sufficient to control disease and halt progression. When disease has advanced, surgical approaches or regenerative techniques may be indicated to rebuild support and improve long-term prognosis.
Our approach balances conservative care with the appropriate use of technology. Scaling and root planing remain foundational non-surgical options to remove plaque and calculus beneath the gumline and to smooth root surfaces so they are less hospitable to bacteria. Adjunctive therapies — such as localized antimicrobials or systemic agents when clinically indicated — can help control bacterial populations and promote healing.
When deeper intervention is required, periodontal surgery can allow precise access to damaged root surfaces and underlying bone, enabling cleaning, reshaping, and repair. Where appropriate, techniques like guided tissue regeneration, bone grafting, and connective tissue grafts aim to restore lost tissues and improve both function and aesthetics.
When periodontal issues are identified early, less invasive measures can be highly effective. Regular professional cleanings combined with scaling and root planing address bacterial deposits above and below the gumline and help resolve inflammation. These procedures remove hardened plaque (calculus) and smooth root surfaces so healing can occur.
Non-surgical care also emphasizes patient education and behavior modification. Strengthening daily oral hygiene habits, adjusting home care tools, and managing systemic risk factors are all part of a comprehensive plan designed to sustain results long-term.
In many cases, adjunctive treatments — such as locally delivered antimicrobials — are used to enhance outcomes, particularly when bacteria are resistant to mechanical removal alone. Follow-up maintenance visits are scheduled to monitor stability and intervene early if signs of recurrence appear.
When pockets are too deep for non-surgical approaches or when anatomic defects limit healing, surgical solutions provide the access and precision needed to clean and reshape affected tissues. Flap surgery allows clinicians to visualize and treat root surfaces and to recontour bone as necessary to reduce pocket depths and facilitate maintenance.
Regenerative approaches seek to restore lost bone and soft tissue using bone grafts, membrane barriers, and biologic agents that encourage new tissue formation. These procedures are carefully selected based on defect type and patient factors, with the aim of improving both support and long-term stability.
Advances in technology — including selective use of lasers in certain situations — have expanded the clinician’s toolkit for conservative and targeted tissue management. Your clinician will recommend the least invasive, most effective option tailored to your clinical needs.
If you have noticed any warning signs, have concerns about bleeding or gum changes, or would like to know more about preserving your periodontal health, please contact us to learn how we can help. Our team at Contemporary Dentistry is committed to guiding you through prevention, treatment, and ongoing maintenance so your smile remains healthy and functional for years to come.
Most people don’t realize that periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every two adults over the age of 30 in the United States has periodontal disease.
You may be surprised to learn that the human mouth is home to a wide variety of microbes. The fact is that over 700 different strains of bacteria have been detected in the oral cavity. Although some of these bacteria are beneficial, others are harmful to oral health. Without proper oral hygiene and routine dental care, these harmful bacteria can cause tooth decay and gum disease, compromising both your oral health and overall wellbeing.
In addition to inadequate oral hygiene and infrequent professional care, other factors, including smoking, genetic tendencies, and unchecked diabetes, can contribute to the escalation of periodontal disease.
Your gums and teeth have an interdependent relationship, which means healthy teeth depend on the support of healthy gums. Also, taking care of your smile does more than keep your teeth and gums in optimal condition; good oral health also supports systemic health. In addition to being the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, researchers are finding more and more links between periodontal disease and a number of medical problems, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory problems, and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-term and low birth-weight babies.
If you notice that your gums are bleeding with the slightest pressure while brushing or flossing, it’s a sign of gingivitis. Although gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease, it can easily be reversed with deeper cleanings as well as an improved regimen of oral hygiene at home.
In the absence of professional treatment and better home care, gingivitis progresses to the next stage, which is known as periodontitis. In this stage, the connective tissue and bone that hold the teeth in place begin to break down with an increase in pocketing between the teeth and bone, gum recession, and bone loss. Without proper treatment by your dentist, periodontitis will progress from a mild to moderate loss of supporting tissue to the destruction of the bone around the teeth.
Although gingivitis can often be reversed with improved oral hygiene and professional cleanings, as periodontal disease advances, more extensive procedures are required to halt its progression. Based on a complete assessment of your periodontal health and a review of possible contributing factors, our office will recommend the best options in care. Treatment for periodontitis may include a series of deeper cleanings known as root planing and scaling, surgical procedures to reduce pocket depth, bone or tissue grafts, laser procedures, or antimicrobial medications.
The cost of care depends on the type of procedures required to restore your periodontal health. If you have dental insurance, plans often cover treatment to prevent gum disease as well as many procedures to treat the various stages of gum disease. Our goal is to help patients restore and maintain good oral health. We do all we can to help you begin care without additional stress or delay. Our business office works with you to maximize your benefits and provide easier, more convenient payment options.
By seeing our office regularly for care and doing your best to eat a healthy diet and practice good oral hygiene, you can keep your smile in tip-top shape as well as protect your overall wellbeing.
At the office of Contemporary Dentistry, we provide a comprehensive range of services to address all your oral healthcare needs. You can rest assured that your smile is in the best of hands at our office. Our skilled and experienced team maintains a position at the forefront of advances in care and remains dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate treatment.
Periodontal disease refers to inflammatory conditions that affect the gums and the supporting structures around the teeth. The earliest form, gingivitis, involves reversible gum inflammation without loss of bone. If left untreated, inflammation can progress to periodontitis, which damages the periodontal ligament and underlying bone. Periodontal disease is a leading cause of adult tooth loss when not properly managed.
Because early stages are often painless, many people do not realize a problem exists until clinical signs appear. Regular dental exams and periodontal screening enable clinicians to detect changes in pocket depth and attachment before irreversible damage occurs. Treatment focuses on eliminating infection, reducing inflammation, and preserving supporting tissues whenever possible.
Gum disease begins when bacterial biofilm (plaque) accumulates along and below the gumline and is allowed to mature. Bacteria and their byproducts trigger a host inflammatory response that, over time, can damage soft tissues and bone if not controlled. Contributing local factors include inadequate oral hygiene and the presence of hardened calculus that shelters bacteria.
Systemic and lifestyle factors increase risk or accelerate progression, including tobacco use, poorly controlled diabetes, certain medications, and genetic predisposition. Age and stress can also influence immune response and healing capacity. Identifying these influences helps clinicians tailor prevention and treatment plans to an individual’s needs.
Common signs that warrant a periodontal evaluation include gums that bleed with brushing or flossing, persistent redness or swelling, and gums that appear to pull away from the teeth. Increased tooth sensitivity, chronic bad breath, and new spacing or looseness of teeth can also indicate advancing disease. Because symptoms may be subtle early on, any persistent change in gum health should prompt professional assessment.
During an evaluation a clinician will measure pocket depths, check for bleeding on probing, and assess attachment levels to determine disease activity and severity. Radiographs help reveal underlying bone loss not visible during a routine exam. Timely detection increases the likelihood that non-surgical therapy will be effective.
Diagnosis begins with a thorough oral examination that includes periodontal probing to measure pocket depths and detect bleeding on probing. Clinicians review medical history, medications, and lifestyle factors that affect periodontal health. Dental radiographs are used to evaluate bone levels and identify patterns of loss that influence treatment decisions.
In selected cases additional tests, such as microbiological sampling or assessment of inflammatory biomarkers, may be used to clarify bacterial profile and disease activity. Comparing measurements of clinical attachment over time helps determine stability or progression. All findings are integrated into a personalized treatment plan focused on controlling infection and restoring a maintainable oral environment.
Non-surgical therapy is the foundation of periodontal care and commonly begins with scaling and root planing to remove plaque and calculus from root surfaces below the gumline. This mechanical debridement reduces bacterial burden and helps soft tissues reattach to cleaned root surfaces. Adjunctive measures can include locally delivered antimicrobials or, when clinically indicated, short courses of systemic agents.
Patient education and improved daily oral hygiene are essential complements to mechanical therapy, with instruction on brushing technique and effective interdental cleaning. Home care improvements greatly increase the long-term success of non-surgical treatment. Follow-up assessments allow clinicians to verify healing and determine whether additional therapy is needed.
Surgical intervention is recommended when pockets are too deep for thorough cleaning with non-surgical methods or when anatomic defects prevent reattachment. Common surgical approaches include flap surgery to gain access for root debridement and osseous recontouring to reduce pocket depth and facilitate maintenance. Surgical care may also remove diseased tissue to create an environment that can be maintained by daily home care.
Regenerative techniques such as guided tissue regeneration, bone grafting, and connective tissue grafts aim to restore lost bone and soft tissue support when appropriate. These procedures are selected based on defect type, patient health, and likelihood of predictable healing. Advances in microsurgical techniques and selective laser use can improve precision and tissue response while minimizing invasiveness.
Research has identified associations between periodontal inflammation and systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes management, certain respiratory diseases, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. While association does not prove causation, the inflammatory burden of untreated periodontal disease may interact with systemic health in ways clinicians should consider. Addressing periodontal inflammation can be an important component of overall health care for patients with chronic medical conditions.
For patients with diabetes or heart disease, coordinated care between dental and medical providers helps align treatment goals and monitor outcomes. Maintaining low levels of oral inflammation reduces bacterial load and systemic inflammatory markers, which may support better general health. Regular periodontal care becomes part of a broader preventive strategy rather than an isolated dental concern.
Many cases of gum disease can be prevented with consistent daily oral hygiene and regular professional care. Effective home routines include twice-daily brushing, daily interdental cleaning with floss or interdental brushes, and use of fluoride toothpaste as recommended. Lifestyle measures such as tobacco cessation and effective diabetes control also substantially lower risk.
The frequency of professional periodontal screening and maintenance varies according to individual risk factors and treatment status; some patients do well with twice-yearly care while others require more frequent monitoring. Your clinician will recommend a maintenance schedule based on healing response, pocket depths, and systemic considerations. Early and regular screening is key to catching changes before they become difficult to reverse.
After active periodontal therapy patients can expect gradual improvement in inflammation and pocket depth over weeks to months, with initial healing often noticeable within the first two weeks. Temporary sensitivity, mild discomfort, and minor bleeding are common and typically resolve as tissues heal. Clinicians provide specific post-treatment instructions to support healing and minimize complications.
Long-term success depends on a structured maintenance program that includes professional cleanings at intervals tailored to disease severity and patient response. Periodontal maintenance visits focus on removing new deposits, monitoring pocket depths, and reinforcing home care habits. Prompt attention to any signs of recurrence allows clinicians to intervene early and preserve support for teeth.
At Contemporary Dentistry our approach to periodontal care emphasizes conservative, evidence-based treatment and patient education. We combine thorough periodontal assessment with modern diagnostics and individualized plans that prioritize tissue preservation and function. Patients receive coaching on home care and a clear follow-up plan to support healing and long-term stability.
When needed, our team coordinates referrals to periodontal specialists and integrates regenerative or surgical techniques chosen to meet each patient’s specific clinical needs. We focus on predictable outcomes and on helping patients maintain periodontal health through ongoing prevention and maintenance. If you notice bleeding, swelling, or changes in your bite, our team at Contemporary Dentistry can evaluate your periodontal health and recommend next steps.